First leaf skeltons.

[koffipot]

Just tried out the leaf skeleton tutorial posted by Ruth.

www.theidearoom.net/2010/10/how-to-make-leaf-skeletons.html

Used laurel, ivy, skimmia and camelia leaves with varying success, but I intend to do more having learned a lot about what not to do

The camelia were best, the others fell apart - except for one little ivy leaf.


CIMG5005 by koffipot, on Flickr

CIMG0206 by koffipot, on Flickr

I bleached 2 of the camelia leaves and may have a go at dyeing some.

The resulting 'soup' might be interesting to use in a dye bath for cotton or other veg. fibre.

[shelley]

oooohhhh.....very pretty!

Another thing for my list...I can't believe how long it's getting...

So, if you use these in felt- they don't break up when you roll? Do you have to trap them?

Is washing soda what we call clothing washing powder in the UK?

[zed]

They look great Judith
I've only used bought ones, and they stood up well for felting, Shelley, I just put them on the top of the felt.
Washing soda is probably in your corner shop, it's about 99p per kilo, or cheaper from Asda, it's for adding to laundry or for down the drain etc.
There's some photos on here
feltingandfiberstudio.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/degumming-silk-throwsters-waste.pdf

[karen]

Judith they look great, i had a go at that to with disastrous results, i ended up with a pot of glue ( and i did top up the water) and after 2 hrs the leaves were still no-where near stripping. I had to throw my pot out to as once cold everything went rock hard lol i wont be trying that again lol

[koffipot]

Karen - I tried some after the 1hr 45mins recommended and they weren't ready. Put them on again for another 45 mins. The skimmia and laurel just fell to pieces (I thought the laurel would be pretty tough) the ivy was a bit more workable, but the camelia was fine. However, my pouncing and brushing techniques need refining

I've also decide that boiling a mixed batch is not a great idea as they break down at different rates.

I WILL perfect this

Shelley - Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate - also used for de-gumming silk. Most supermarkets stock it.

[MTRuth]

cool Judith - I'm glad that it worked for somebody. Do let us know the perfecting techniques

[karen]

On no does that mean i have to try this again I was even thinking that the washing soda you get might be different than ours ? although i doubt it.

[Shepherdess]

If you don't have washing soda maybe you can find some PHup for swimming pools. It goes on sale at the end of the season. It's what I use for fiber reactive dying and degumming silk.

[karen]

Oh i've never heard of that Ann, ive heard of ph up for pools but would never have thought to use it dying

Judith do you want to check my blog to see my disaster

karensfeltworks.blogspot.com/

[koffipot]

Karen, yes, I've seen it. Those of mine which disintegrated looked like that. I guess I was just lucky I had some which were a bit more robust

Will keep you posted on further attempts, whatever the outcome!

Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate the world over - it has a pH of about 10, whereas Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Powder/Baking Soda - which is what 'pH up' is) has a pH of only 6.3. Whether or not 6.3 is enough to break down the leaves I don't know. Another experiment???

[Shepherdess]

Ph up is or should be sodium carbonate . Baking soda will not work for dying or this. I learned about PH up on 'Paula Birch's dye site she does warn about someone trying to sell you the wrong thing at the pool store. You should definitely read the ingredients. She suggests it because shipping from you dye supplier is is not aloud some places and it is heavy to ship.

[shelley]

Thanks Judith/ Zed. Will try to find some and have a go. Putting it on shoppping list...and based on Karen comments will use an old pan.

[karen]

LOL Good Idea Shelley lol

[christiewn]

I really like leaf skeletons so decided to have a go using Eucalyptus leaves (there are very few trees where I live so not a lot of choice).

Three hours later and they are still in the pot simmering away. They seem to have gone a tiny bit transparent but not by much. I'm going to keep the pot going for longer to find out if they will skeletonise (have I just invested a new word?!!).

[karen]

I think so Christie lol Three hours is a long time ? Did you try brushing one of the leaves now, according to the directions you have to gently brush the leaf to get the leafy residue off, I had an old small paint brush, Mine went like crispy critters and snapped within seconds of taking them out of the pot lol